A Fairytale Home That is Completely Out of Place

Ever wished you could live in The Shire?

Tucked away in Culver City, The Lawrence and Martha Joseph Residence and Apartments—better known as The Hobbit Houses—bring that fantasy to life.

Designed by Disney artist Lawrence Joseph, this landmarked gem is a masterpiece of Storybook architecture.

Think: ✔️ Odd-shaped, leaded glass windows ✔️ Rustic stone walls ✔️ Sloping, uneven roof tiles ✔️ No 90-degree angles anywhere (seriously!)

Joseph, an aerospace worker and expert sailor, built the property by hand in his spare time. And his nautical influence is everywhere—galley-style kitchens, boat latches instead of doorknobs, and rope drawer pulls.

Spread across three buildings, the property has seven unique apartments, each packed with eccentric details. One unit even has a green-tiled bathroom, stained glass windows, and a built-in mini-fridge.

One story claims that the cobblestone pathways and some of the curved wooden beams in the Hobbit Houses originally came from the Munchkinland set in The Wizard of Oz. When MGM dismantled the set after filming wrapped in 1939, parts of it were allegedly salvaged and repurposed into Joseph’s project. Some locals even whispered that the irregularly shaped doors and windows of the Hobbit Houses were inspired by actual architectural pieces from the film, giving the apartments their distinctive, almost surreal look.

Another tale suggests that weathered wooden beams from old pirate movie ships (possibly from Errol Flynn films) were also incorporated into the structures. If true, that means the same wood that once set sail on the silver screen became part of the foundations of this fairy-tale village.

While there’s no official documentation proving exactly which pieces came from where, it’s undeniable that Joseph had access to discarded Hollywood set materials—and he used them to craft a place that feels straight out of a dream.

These residences have been compared to the Watts Towers in terms of folk art. And thanks to a conservation easement, it’s protected for future generations. It literally cannot be destroyed!

A true fairytale home, right in the heart of LA.